Universal fit stocking



Jan. 20, 1970 R. M. MATTHEWS 3,40,976

UNIVERSAL FIT STOCKING Filed March 13, 1967 INVENTOR @fiEET M-MATTHEW$ BY a Q N U W @somg @cuwma J 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent l 3,490,076 UNIVERSAL FIT STOCKING Robert M. Matthews, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Chadbourn Inc., Charlotte, N.'C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Mar. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 622,769 Int. Cl. A41b 11/00 US. Cl. 2-239 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stocking and method of making it, to be made in one size to fit all persons, knit of torque monofilament stretch yarn with no knit heel pocket or reinforcing in the heel area, and finished on a boarding form which has no heel shape, or only a general indication of a heel area, and in one form being symmetrical from welt to toe about its longitudinal center line.

Background of the invention This invention relates to ladies stretch stockings, and particularly to ladies stockings which will have a universal fit.

The problem of providing stockings so that all persons, regardless of leg size or shape, can be properly fitted has been a serious one. For many years the answer to the problem was to provide stockings in many sizes, usually in half size steps from size 8 to size 11, so that the difference from one size to the next was asmall one. This did not completely answer the problem, for there is not only a difference in leg size, but also in leg shape. Thus, although a stocking having one foot size might fit one leg, the same stocking might not fit the leg of another having the same size foot. With the advent of stretch yarns, the problem was solved somewhat, as the stockings would contract to the contour of the leg and provide a snug fit. Although it has been possible to somewhat reduce the number of sizes required by the use of stretch yarns, and thereby reduce the number of sizes manufactured and the inventory of the retailer, good fit was not obtainable unless a number of sizes were produced.

In a cO-pending application of Robert M. Matthews and James M. Lathem, filed Oct. 26, 1966, entitled Miniature Stocking and Method of Making It, there is disclosed a stocking which need be manufactured in but two sizes to fit all legs. This stocking is made of yarn having high stretch, and is finished on a small boarding form, and in relaxed condition is much smaller than any leg it is designed to fit. While this stocking is a great step forward in reducing the number of sizes required to be supplied, it is necessary that the two sizes be made and carried by the retailer.

Summary of the invention The general object of the present invention is to provide a ladies stretch stocking which need be Supplied in but one size to fit all legs.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a stocking having high stretch, and which has no heel pocket, or reenforcement, so that when worn it will adapt itself to the shape and length of the particular foot over which it is drawn.

Another object is to provide a stocking of this nature which can be worn in two positions, rather than one position with the sole portion under the foot as is necessary with conventional stockings.

A further object is the provision of an improved method of making a stocking to fit all leg sizes.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide im- 3,490,076 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 proved boarding forms on which to finish stockings which will have universal fit.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of practical embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a stocking made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 shows the same stocking as it appears on the leg of a wearer;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of another form of stocking made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an illustration of a boarding form on which the stocking shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is finished; and

FIGURE 5 shows a boarding form on which the stocking of FIGURE 3 is finished.

Description of the preferred embodiments In general, the invention is directed to a stocking knit of stretch yarn without a heel, and allowed to relax during finishing operations so that it is quite mall in finished form. The invention is also concerned with the method of making the stocking, and with the forms on which the stocking is finished.

The stocking is knit using a torque monofilament stretch yarn, and either a two or four feed machine may be used. The usual number of courses for a full length stocking will be knit. The knitting will alternate S and Z torque yarns so as to produce a balanced fabric. The yarn known as Chadolon has been found to be highly satisfactory.

The stocking will be formed with the usual turned welt 1, which may be knit of heavier yarn than is used for the body fabric. A run stop 2 will be formed between the welt and the leg 3. The leg and foot portion 4 are knit continuously, using only a single thickness of body yarn, without forming a heel pocket or using reenforcing in the heel area. The bottom of the stocking can be closed with either a French toe 5, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, or stitched to form a template toe 6, as shown in FIGURE 3. In either event, a run stop band 7 may be provided at the edge of the toe reenforcement area.

After the toe has been closed, the stockings are put in a steam box at temperatures of 200 F. to 225 F. for from forty to fifty minutes. This causes the lively yarn to relax, and the stocking to become much smaller in its overall dimension.

The stockings are then placed in dye nets, several dozen to the net, with no crowding, so that the stockings can relax even further during the dyeing operation. After removal from the dye bath, the stockings can be dried in the usual manner.

The stockings are then placed on boards, such as the boards shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, so that they may be given their final shape. It is important that the shaping during boarding be done with a minimum of distortion of the fabric from its relaxed state. Therefore, small boarding forms are used, and the stockings are gradually worked onto the form without jerking or stretching, until the toe is in place. The welt is then pulled down just far enough on the form to take the wrinkles out of the leg fabric. After placement on the forms, the stockings are set in conventional retorts.

As a final treatment step, the finished stockings should be removed from the forms and allowed to relax in flat form for approximately twenty-four hours before pairing. This will allow the stockings to achieve fully relaxed condition, so that when paired the two stockings will have the same length and there will be no further relaxation of the fabric to cause one stocking to reduce in size more than the other.

A stocking having a French toe, such as the stocking shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, will have the same appearance from either side and, as there is no heel, can be worn in either of two positions if properly boarded. To this end, a boarding form 8, such as is shown in FIGURE 4, may be used. This form is symmetrical about its longitudinal center line. It has a mounting section 9 with parallel side edges by which it is attached to a suitable carrier (not shown). Above the mounting portion the sides of the form converge toward the toe to form a welt receiving area 10. From this section, the sides arch outwardly to form the calf section 11, and converge to the ankle region 12. The foot portion 13 has generally parallel sides. The form terminates in the toe area 14, which has arcuate sides converging to the peak 15.

Stockings finished on forms such as the form 8 will have a symmetrical appearance, having leg sections of the general shape of the human leg when viewed from the front or rear, and a foot portion which is substantially straight. As mentioned above, stockings finished on these forms can be worn in either of two ways, with either flat side of the foot section on the upper part of the foot. This eliminates the necessity for orienting the stocking in a single position before putting it on, and it provides a stocking which will accommodate itself to various foot sizes. The stocking of the present invention has good stretch characteristics and will conform itself to any normal leg size or shape.

Stockings having a template t-oe cannot be worn in more than one position. Therefore, these stockings can have some semblance of a foot shape, with a wide heel concave, yet the shape will not necessarily define a precise heel position. In view of this, the form such as that shown in FIGURE may be used for boarding the stockings.

The boarding form 16, shown in FIGURE 5, has a straight front edge 17 from the mounting section 18 to the toe tip 19. The opposite side edge 20 of the mounting section 18 is parallel to the straight front edge 17. The welt carrier 21 has its rear edge 22 at an angle to the front edge 17, with the two edges converging toward the toe. The calf section 23 has its rear edge 24 arched in conventional manner, and it curves into the angle section 25. A gentle curve 26 is given to the back edge just below the ankle area to indicate generally a heel area 27. This curve is quite shallow, and is not truly definitive of the heel position. In the foot area 28 the back edge 29 follows the general shape of the bottom of the foot to the toe tip 19.

While stockings finished on the boarding form 16 will have somewhat of a foot shape, there is no actual heel pocket, nor is there any heel reenforcing. The expanded width in the heel area is merely to provide added fabric in the general region without actually defining the position which the heel of the wearer will take when the stocking is in place. Thus, stockings finished on this form will readily adapt themselves to feet of different lengths.

I claim:

1. In a stocking having neither front or rear creases, the combination of a welt area, a combination leg and foot area, and a toe area, said stocking being knit of torque monofilament stretch yarn throughout, the welt and toe areas being reinforced and the combination leg and foot area being unreinforced from the weld area to the toe area, the stocking having a boarded shape with side edges and said toe area being symmetrical about the longitudinal center line of the stocking, the welt area being downwardly tapering, the combination leg and foot area including a centrally swelling calf, a downwardly tapering ankle area and a substantially rectangular foot area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,757 8/1955 Leath et al. 1,475,753 11/1923 Coulston 223- 2,695,507 11/1954 Tew 66178 XR 2,825,215 3/1958 Buckreus 66178 XR 2,960,751 11/1960 Reymes-Cole 66185 XR 3,310,966 3/1967 Berry 66185 XR 3,356,272 12/1967 Berry 22375 3,377,826 4/1968 Berry 66185 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 867,543 8/1941 France. 8,443 12/ 1952 Germany.

JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner 

